Report Copyright Infringement View in OSM UK

Description

Using two sticks and the rotation of the Earth vs the stars, work out which way you are facing at night!

Resources

Two sticks, one short enough to be the "near sight" of a Scout laying on the ground, the second stick long enough to be the "far sight" and track a star as it moves.

Obviously need to have a view of the sky without many obstructions at ground level as well!

Instructions

Lie down on your stomach, then set up one stick in front of you at eye level.
Take a slightly longer stick and set it up behind the first so that when you line up the tops of the sticks, they point to a star.
Wait a few minutes, and that star will appear to move.

If it moves:

UP, you’re facing East
DOWN, you’re facing West
LEFT, you’re facing North
RIGHT, you’re facing South

No need to memorise this—just visualise the globe’s eastwards rotation!

Tags

(none)

Badge Links

This activity doesn't complete any badge requirements